New Delhi: In a landmark move for India’s legal sector, leading Indian law firm IndusLaw has entered into a strategic alliance with CMS, one of the world’s largest legal networks. This partnership is poised to reshape the legal landscape in India, especially following the recent move by the Bar Council of India (BCI) to allow foreign law firms and lawyers to practice in the country under reciprocal terms.
Under the agreement, IndusLaw will join CMS as a member firm. CMS operates through a Swiss Verein structure, which enables global collaboration and unified branding while allowing each member firm to maintain independent legal and financial operations. Headquartered in Europe, CMS encompasses 18 autonomous law firms across numerous jurisdictions and boasts more than 80 offices globally. The network ranks fifth worldwide by lawyer count.
Gaurav Dani, co-founder of IndusLaw, emphasized that this partnership is the result of a two-year-long process and not a reaction to the BCI’s recent regulatory update. “This alliance stems from a long-standing working relationship and deep cultural alignment,” Dani explained. “We will retain our full independence while gaining access to an extensive international platform.”
The collaboration is set to become fully operational by December 2025. Once in effect, CMS will significantly enhance its presence in the Indian legal market, while IndusLaw will be better positioned to serve multinational clients, especially in key sectors such as infrastructure, technology, financial services, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
This development marks a key milestone in India’s ongoing journey toward legal liberalisation. It is expected to pave the way for more global tie-ups, reinforcing India’s position as a vital hub for international legal collaboration—particularly as the country approaches the status of the world’s third-largest economy.
